Vegan Ramen with Tofu

[ 0 ] March 25, 2021 | Contributor

This tasty vegan ramen has a delectable broth with yummy glazed tofu and tender vegetables on a bed of juicy noodles. If you’re a ramen fan, you’ll love this vegan version that you can make whenever you want.

This recipe serves 4 people.

Ingredients

2 tablespoons high-heat oil (peanut, canola, sunflower, or grapeseed), divided
4 ounces fresh shitake mushrooms, cleaned, stemmed, and sliced
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 teaspoons fresh ginger, grated
2 scallions, chopped (keep the white and green parts separate)
6 cups vegetable broth
4 tablespoons tamari or soy sauce, divided
1 tablespoon of either brown sugar or coconut palm sugar
1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil
1 package extra-firm tofu (14 ounces)
4 ounces dried ramen noodles (you can use half of a 9 1/2 ounce package)
2 medium carrots, julienned
1 cup shelled edamame, frozen, and then thawed
Toasted sesame seeds (for serving)

Method

First of all, prepare your tofu. Remove it from the packaging and drain the water. Next, press your tofu to get as much moisture out of it as you can. You can do this quickly using a tofu press such as the one at https://tofubud.com/products/tofu-press or wrap the tofu in a towel and put it in a colander, pressing weight on top.
While your tofu is draining, heat 1 tablespoon of your chosen high-heat oil in a large pot over medium heat. Once the oil is hot, sauté the mushrooms for 5 minutes (till they soften and brown). Stir regularly to avoid burning, adding a splash more oil if you need to.
Now add the garlic, ginger, and the white pieces of the scallions. Sauté for a minute or so, then stir in the broth along with 2 tablespoons of the tamari or soy sauce.
Bring the liquid to a quick roiling boil, then lower the heat and let simmer for 30 minutes.
While the broth cooks, prepare the tofu and glaze sauce. Start by patting dry your block of tofu and then cutting it into cubes. In a small bowl, stir in 2 tablespoons of tamari or soy sauce into the sugar and 1/2 teaspoon of sesame oil. Stir well to dissolve the sugar.
Put the last tablespoon of high-heat oil into a skillet and turn the heat on to medium. Add the cubes of tofu once the oil is hot and brown them for 5 minutes on one side. Flip the cubes over carefully, then let them cook for 5 minutes more to brown the other side. You want your cubes to be nicely browned and crisp.
Now pour the sugary sauce over the tofu cubes, stirring gently to coat the cubes evenly with the sauce. Let the tofu cook for 1 minute to reduce most of the liquid, then remove the tofu from the skillet and set aside.
Bring some water to a boil. Cook the noodles following the manufacturer’s instructions. Drain the noodles in a colander, rinsing them with cold water to release any starch from cooking.
Once your broth has cooked, add in the julienned carrot and let simmer for another minute. The pieces of carrot should just start to soften. Remove the pot of broth from heat, and stir in the last 1/2 teaspoon of sesame oil into the broth.
Check the seasoning and add a bit of extra soy sauce, if needed.
Now it’s time to get ready to serve your ramen bowls. Divide the noodles evenly among 4 bowls, then ladle in the broth with the mushrooms and carrots. Top with edamame, the green parts of the scallions, and some toasted sesame seeds.
Serve and enjoy!

Vegan Ramen with Tofu FAQs

What is traditional ramen?

Ramen is a traditional Japanese noodle soup with noodles in a meat or fish-based broth and has toppings of various meat mixtures and scallions. Various types of ramen come from different regions of Japan.

Are there any other toppings I can serve on top of my ramen?

You can use many different toppings for your ramen, such as:

Kimchi (some brands don’t include fish sauce and are therefore suitable for vegans)
Seaweed
Diced sweet pepper
Bean sprouts

What else can I make with ramen noodles?

You can make a variety of dishes with ramen, including:

Casseroles
Ramen and tofu meatballs
Ramen burgers (use fried ramen as a bun alternative with a tofu-based burger)
Ramen pizza (fried ramen makes a delicious pizza crust with vegan cheese and veggie toppings)
Sweet ramen bars (like granola bars but with ramen!)